Any history or
anthology of the National Cat Club would be incomplete without
the "Winking Cat" or the National Logo - both designed by one of
the National's Founder members, the renowned artist and
illustrator Louis Wain.

Not only a
Founder Member, Louis Wain was Chairman in 1898 and 1911 and Show Manager
in 1900.

His contributions to the foundations of this great club were immense and
his talented paintings, sketches, drawings and cartoons of cats must have
played a major part in popularising the cat. It was so tragic, therefore,
when in 1925 he was discovered to be living in a pauper lunatic asylum.

An appeal was launched by Mrs. Cecil Chesterton in the September, 1925,
issue of the magazine ANIMALS. This produced an immediate response from
the public.

In her
appeal, Mrs. Chesterton wrote, "For years Louis Wain's cats
decorated our hoardings, adorned the covers of magazines and were
familiarly loved by every child and the majority of grown-ups. No
Christmas Calendar was complete without this artist, no annual was
issued that did not contain one of his vivid sketches. And yet, at
the age of 65, he is so bereft of means that in his affliction he is
compelled to accept the hospitality of a State institution
..............."

"Louis Wain
was not one of those men who take no thought for the morrow. His history
is one of the tragedies which rouse our deepest feelings of commiseration.
For years he made a fair income but, with a lack of business acumen, so
often allied to genius, when he sold his drawings he parted with them
outright, thus receiving no payment when they were reproduced over and
over, again .............."

"Though he was a prolific worker, the war (1914-1918) put an end to
his means of livelihood as public demand changed in favour of khaki as
against cats. Such publications as were still devoted to Louis Wain
reproduced those of his drawings which had already been paid for."

"By this means Louis
Wain's resources dwindled and though for a time he made a little money by
cinema cartoons, he gradually found himself penniless and without
employment. A period of intense privation, added to the mental strain and
bewilderment at finding himself in such a position, precipitated a
breakdown. In 1923 he was admitted as a pauper to the asylum where he has
been ever since."

"This is a case which should appeal not only to the lovers of art and
admirers of Louis Wain's particular talents but should enlist the
heartfelt sympathy of those devoted to animals and concerned for their
kindly treatment. Louis Wain did very much for animals."

Louis
Wain was the President of the National Cat Club and remained Chairman of the
Committee right down to the date of his illness. He has supported
innumerable Cats' Homes and Receiving Shelters for Stray Cats and was one
of the Governing Council of Our Dumb Friends' League and an active member
of the National Anti-Vivisection Society and his understanding of our
four-footed creatures established many beautiful friendships between him
and them."

"At the
present moment this man, who has delighted thousands of people, and
conjured up innumerable smiles, lives in an asylum where, despite the
sympathy and kindliness of the officials, the conditions are necessarily
terrible. An asylum, in any case, must be a place of woe and desolation
but there are certain ameliorations in the matter of surroundings which
money makes possible...................Were sufficient funds forthcoming
Louis Wain could be removed to the paying portion of the asylum with a
more generous diet and increased facilities for seeing his friends."

"Louis Wain is not a violent lunatic. He is now what he has always
been - gentle, unassuming, humorous and able at times to use his pencil
and reproduce his beloved cats. But there are periods of darkness when he
knows no one. At such periods one feels acutely that he should have
everything that money can provide."

There was an immediate and generous response to Mrs. Chesterton's
heartrending appeal. In the October issue of ANIMALS it was reported,
"Thanks to the generous support of the Public, Louis in is no
longer in a pauper lunatic asylum. He is now in Bethlem Royal Hospital
where his expenses are being defrayed by the fund. But this does not
permanently settle the problem of his future. If he remains in his present
condition the question of his maintenance must continue for some years.
And not maintenance only. He now enjoys the amenities suitable to his
temperament and condition. An entirely new wardrobe has been supplied to
him, his room is comfortably furnished and he has all the colours etc. he
can desire."

"There is, however, another side to the question. Medical opinion
believes that there is some faint hope of his recovery. Should this hope
be fulfilled it would be most disastrous that he should return to the
world without a home and adequate provision until such time as he could
earn his living once again. His family dependence are not in a position to
do this and it becomes, therefore, a matter of urgent necessity to arrange
for this possibility."

In a final message, the Appeal Committee expressed their thanks,
"............. to the Press for their generous support. The Daily
Graphic competition brought the fund the gratifying total sum of £283 and
from all over the country we have received letters sent to the local
newspapers containing subscriptions. The whole of Great Britain and
Ireland have combined to help us in our work to relieve the famous cat
artist."

Thanks were also expressed to the
famous author H G Wells and to the British Broadcasting Co. and to many
admirers who sent original sketches for sale and to artists who
contributed signed pictures for the same purpose.

It is a wonderful story and, as often stated many times in all
circumstances, "................... It is one more proof that the
great heart of the public is ever open to the unfortunate and
afflicted". words written in 1925 but still applicable today when a
just cause is publicised.

At the 1996 Centenary National Show there were many Charities where the
Public of 1996 showed their generosity as a tribute to this great artist
who had so much influence in the founding of the National Cat Club and
who, through his wonderful work, generated a public love of cats which has
not been so forthcoming in previous years.

Extracts included in this feature, and
the illustrations are taken from "Souvenir of Louis Wain's Work"
published in 1925